Throughout the PCUSA, camps and conference centers join congregations and individuals in caring for God’s creation. One such facility is Ferncliff (Little Rock, AR).
Ferncliff Presbyterian Camp/Conference Center is making a concerted effort to go green because they see it as an act of worship and creation care. This past year they put in a camp garden with the help of an AmeriCorps NCCC team. They now have 20 raised bed, composting, chickens, worm farm, solar powered irrigation for their 28 new blueberry bushes, and a goat pen made from pallets.
Most all the garden has been made out of reused materials, and campers are transported to the garden in a solar powered, 14 passenger vehicle that was purchased with the help of three small grants. While at the garden, campers harvest vegetables, feed the chickens, gather eggs, and make muffins in a solar oven.
In addition, while at Fercliff, campers scrape their plates into buckets mounted on mannequins Compost Carl and Foodwaste Fran. For one meal each week campers have a global justice meal with rice, beans, water and fruit.
Finally, this summer the campers will select a micro loan to support with the funds saved from the simple meal.
Beyond its camp program, Ferncliff also hosts “Solar School” each spring and fall for Solar Under the Sun, a program that trains teams of laypeople how to install solar energy systems in mission projects around the world. Presbyterian Women awarded Solar Under the Sun a $200,000 Birthday Offering for 2012-2013. Half the funds will add solar installations at Ferncliff and half will be used for solar mission projects in Haiti.
Ferncliff will host the national gather of Presbyterians for Earth Care in October 2013.
If you would like to know more or are looking for a green meeting site for a regional or national gathering, contact Rev. David Gill via Ferncliff@ferncliff.org